Ultrasonic diagnostic imaging systems with scanhead indicators

Abstract

Ultrasonic diagnostic scanheads are described which include a lighting mechanism located at the transducer end of the scanhead. The scanhead includes an integral light which is illuminated when the scanhead is connected to an imaging system. The light is color-coded in a manner which clearly identifies a particular characteristic of the scanhead such as frequency of operation. In the preferred embodiment the integral light is located in a position on the scanhead which also informs the user of the orientation of the image plane in relation to the scanhead. In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, the light of a selected scanhead is modulated by the imaging system when the clinician selects the scanhead for use.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A scanhead for an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system which facilitates location of the scanhead in a darkened examination room, said scanhead comprising: a connector end including a connector for electrical connection of said scanhead to said diagnostic imaging system;   a handle end including a piezoelectric transducer at a face which contacts a patient's body for receiving ultrasonic energy through said patient contact face and converting said energy to electrical signals which are used by said ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system to form an image of the internal structure of a portion of the patient's body which is located in front of said patient contact face;   a cable connecting said connector end and said handle end to enable transmission of electrical signals between said transducer and said diagnostic imaging system; and   an illumination mechanism located at said handle end of said scanhead in a predetermined position with respect to the spatial location of the plane of said image for emitting light from said scanhead, which light indicates a characteristic of said scanhead to a user during use of said scanhead.   
     
     
       2. The scanhead of claim 1, wherein said illumination mechanism is color coded to indicate an operating characteristic of said scanhead. 
     
     
       3. The scanhead of claim 2, wherein said illumination mechanism includes a lighting device which emits light of a predetermined color. 
     
     
       4. The scanhead in claim 1, wherein said illumination mechanism emits light of a predetermined color, said color indicating an operating characteristic of said scanhead. 
     
     
       5. The scanhead of claim 1, wherein said transducer is operated to scan an area in front of said handle end in a predetermined direction, and wherein said illumination mechanism is located at a position on said handle end which is indicative of said predetermined scanning direction of said transducer. 
     
     
       6. The scanhead of claim 5, wherein said illumination mechanism presents a physical discontinuity with respect to the surrounding material of said handle end so that the location of said illumination mechanism may be tactilely sensed. 
     
     
       7. The scanhead of claim 1, wherein said illumination mechanism is located on a surface of said handle end of said scanhead other than said face, said illumination mechanism being visible to a user of said scanhead during use of said scanhead. 
     
     
       8. The scanhead of claim 7, wherein said illumination mechanism is oriented in a direction away from the body being imaged during use of said scanhead. 
     
     
       9. The scanhead of claim 1, wherein said scanhead characteristic indicated by said light is a transmit frequency of said piezoelectric transducer. 
     
     
       10. The scanhead of claim 1, wherein said scanhead characteristic indicated by said light is the selection of said scanhead for image display by said diagnostic imaging system. 
     
     
       11. The scanhead of claim 1, wherein said scanhead characteristic indicated by said light is the orientation of said scanhead in relation to the image displayed by said diagnostic imaging system. 
     
     
       12. A scanhead for an ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system which facilitates location of the scanhead in a darkened examination room, said scanhead comprising: a connector end including a connector for electrical connection of said scanhead to said diagnostic imaging system;   a handle end including a piezoelectric transducer for receiving ultrasonic energy and converting said energy to electrical signals;   a cable connecting said connector end and said handle end to enable transmission of electrical signals between said transducer and said diagnostic imaging system; and   an illumination mechanism located at said handle end of said scanhead for emitting light from said scanhead, wherein said illumination mechanism includes an outer colored lens which provides color coding; to indicate an operating characteristic of said scanhead, and   wherein said illumination mechanism includes an outer colored lens which provides said color coding.   
     
     
       13. An ultrasonic diagnostic system, comprising: a scanhead including a transducer end, a connector end, and cable means connecting said transducer end and said connector end, said transducer end including an ultrasonic imaging transducer which opposes a face surface through which ultrasonic energy is transmitted and received, and an illumination mechanism located at said transducer end on a surface of said transducer end other than said face surface and which is visible to a user during use of said scanhead; and   an operating and control system for energizing and controlling the operation of said scanhead and for forming an image of the interior of a body in response to the ultrasonic energy received by said imaging transducer, said operating and control system including means for connecting with said connector end of said scanhead and means for energizing said illumination mechanism during use of said scanhead to indicate an operating characteristic of said scanhead to a user.   
     
     
       14. The ultrasonic diagnostic system of claim 13, wherein said means for energizing said illumination mechanism includes means for modulating the energization of said illumination mechanism during a predetermined operating condition of said scanhead. 
     
     
       15. The ultrasonic diagnostic system of claim 14, wherein said predetermined operating condition is the selection of said scanhead for scanning. 
     
     
       16. The ultrasonic diagnostic system of claim 14, wherein said predetermined operating condition is the initialization of said operating and control system for energizing and controlling the operation of said scanhead. 
     
     
       17. The ultrasonic diagnostic system of claim 13, further comprising a second scanhead including a transducer end, a connector end, and cable means connecting said transducer end and said connector end, and an illumination mechanism located at said transducer end; wherein said operating and control system further including means for connecting with said connector end of said second scanhead and means for energizing said illumination mechanism of said second scanhead; and wherein said illumination mechanisms of said first named and second scanheads are color-coded for identification of an operating characteristic of said scanheads. 
     
     
       18. An ultrasonic diagnostic system, comprising: a scanhead including a transducer end, a connector end, and cable means connecting said transducer end and said connector end, and an illumination mechanism located at said transducer end;   an operating and control system for energizing and controlling the operation of said scanhead, said operating and control system including means for connecting with said connector end of said scanhead and means for energizing said illumination mechanism;   further comprising a second scanhead including a transducer end, a connector end, and cable means connecting said transducer end and said connector end, and an illumination mechanism located at said transducer end; wherein said operating and control system further including means for connecting with said connector end of said second scanhead and means for energizing said illumination mechanism of said second scanhead; and   wherein said illumination mechanisms of said first named and second scanheads are color-coded for identification of an operating characteristic of said scanheads, and   wherein said operating and control system further includes means for selecting one of said first named and second scanheads for operation; and means for modulating the illumination mechanism of a selected scanhead.   
     
     
       19. An ultrasonic diagnostic system, comprising: a scanhead including a transducer end, a connector end, and cable means connecting said transducer end and said connector end, and an illumination mechanism located at said   an operating and control system for energizing and controlling the operation of said scanhead, said operating and control system including means for connecting with said connector end of said scanhead and means for energizing said illumination mechanism;   further comprising a second scanhead including a transducer end, a connector end, and cable means connecting said transducer end and said connector end, and an illumination mechanism located at said transducer end; wherein said operating and control system further including means for connecting with said connector end of said second scanhead and means for energizing said illumination mechanism of said second scanhead; and   wherein said illumination mechanisms of said first named and second scanheads are color-coded for identification of an operating characteristic of said scanheads, and   wherein said operating characteristic identified by said color-coding is transducer frequency; and wherein said color-coding numerically corresponds with the conventional color-coding of electrical resistors.